ArmenPress, Armenia
Jan 13 2005

UNEMPLOYED IN ARAGATSOTN RELUCTANT TO TAKE VACANCIES

ASHTARAK, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: The official unemployment level
in the province of Aragatsotn is 1.7 percent, but experts of the
local employment center put the figure far higher, citing the
reluctance of the unemployed to apply to the center in search of
jobs.
According to the latest population census, the province is home to
126,000 people, of which 1,392 have the status of unemployed. Unlike
in the capital of the province, the town of Ashtarak and rural
settlements located on foothills, where there is very difficult to
find a job, there are vacancies for teachers, doctors, drivers and
firemen in mountainous villages.
The local employment center is trying to offer these jobs to the
unemployed, but low wages and lack of other tolerable conditions make
these vacancies unattractive. In an effort to improve this situation
the government plans to provide some privileges to people who would
wish to take up these vacancies.